High Energy Astrophysics Group

OSO-7

Orbiting Solar Observatory-7

Solar X-ray Experiment

Soft X-ray Detector | Hard X-ray Detector | Particle Detectors | Electronics | Performance

The 2.54 cm diameter soft x-ray proportional counter contains one atmosphere of Xe/CO₂ and has a 115 mg/cm² beryllium entrance window. An aluminum collimator defined the field of view and reduced the effective area to 0.32 cm². The output pulses were pulse height analyzed into seven linear channels of ~1.5 keV width, plus one channel covering 10-14.6 keV. The detector gain was monitored with the 5.9 keV x-rays associated with an ⁵⁵Fe source in the aperture, and the gain could be adjusted by altering the detector high voltage by command. The quiet sun counting rate dominated the calibration source rate, so calibration data was taken during satellite night.

OSO-7 Information

Mission Objectives
Spacecraft
Cosmic X--ray Experiment
Solar X--ray Experiment
Results
Publication